Storage and protection case for thumb drives

ABSTRACT

A storage device and method for storing, protecting, and cataloging a plurality of thumb drives.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to media storage and protection devices.

2. Background Information

USB-based flash memory storage devices (“thumb drives”) are increasingly the storage medium of choice for digital data back-up. This is because of their affordability, durability, and universality, as opposed to, for example, hard drives. In addition to uses for back-up purposes, thumb drives are also (among many other purposes) ideal for sharing of information between computer users, especially with respect to data that is not suitable for on-line transmission (for security reasons, for example). Further still, there exist some circumstances in which, even if security, costs, and the like in no way urge away from use of hard drives, on-line transmissions, or other data storage and transmission options, to have a tangible repository for such data. For example, a business that wants to provide promotional information, electronic product offerings or catalogs, instructional materials, and the like, may want to achieve the visual reminder aspect of providing such data in a tangible form, such as a thumb drive with the businesses name, logo and the like.

As desirable as thumb drives are, dependence on them has certain, current disadvantages. As one collects a number of thumb drives (as is increasingly the norm), the thumb drives resemble in appearance and risk of loss or confusion, any collection of effectively indistinguishable repositories of information or other items (such as a collection of unlabeled CDs, DVDs, unmarked boxes, and the like). This, because there currently exists no effective means for labeling, organizing, or otherwise readily identifying data that resides on a thumb drive. While one may, in theory, mark a thumb drive's exterior with an indelible marker to indicate its contents, in practice, virtually no one actually does this (despite the best of intentions, perhaps, to later do so, or based on a passing belief that one will simply recall what is stored on a thumb drive).

Furthermore, even if one exhibits the discipline to label thumb drives, there still exists no option for organizing subsets of one's collections, readily identifying such collection, nor for physically protecting or displaying such drives (in bookcase fashion for overall organization and easy location). Certainly, one can store thumb drives in any box or other container, but without specific accommodation for organizing, segregating, and protecting the thumb drives, the container becomes just another disorganized assemblage with no benefit in identifying, organization, displaying, or protecting the thumb drives.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing, there is a considerable need for, and it will well serve all users of thumb drives to provide a storage device and method for storing, organizing, displaying, and identifying the contents of collections or groupings of thumb drives. Such a storage device and associated method of use would ideally include means for maintaining thumb drives in a relatively uniform orientation, in a physically protected enclosure, and in relation to in addition to indicate the stored data.

In satisfaction of these and related needs and objectives, the present inventor has designed a thumb drive storage device that is configured specifically to accommodate a plurality of thumb drives, to maintain such thumb drives in a relatively uniform orientation, to provide indicia relative to such plurality of thumb drives, as well as each individual thumb drive, to maintain each contained thumb drive in a position relative to the individually-identifying indicia, and to provide physical protection from impact and soiling from dust, and the like.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the thumb drive storage unit of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the unit of FIG. 1, opened to show the interior configuration of such unit.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the thumb drive storage device of the present invention is identified generally by the reference numeral 10. Device 10 is a book-like-shaped enclosure with back cover wall 12, a spine wall 14, end walls 16, and a front cover wall 18. Device 10 is, in the preferred embodiment, fabricated of substantially rigid plastic, but could, of course, be fabricated from any number of substantially rigid and long-lasting materials (such as metal).

Situated within the interior space of device 10 are the dividers 22 that, in the illustrated embodiment, define four delineated depositories (“slots”) 24 to respectively receive one additional thumb drive (not shown in the drawings). An interior, retaining wall 20 facilitates maintaining thumb drives in respective slots 24.

A substantially transparent cover is a fixed to the exterior of one or all of back cover wall 12, spine wall 14, and/or front cover wall 18. As depicted in FIG. 1, covers 26 and 28 are respectively attached to front cover wall 18 and spine wall 14. A unitary transparent cover (not separately shown) may also be configured. In any event, one or more margins of such covers are left unattached to the underlying device material, such that labels or other indicia-bearing media can be inserted and removed as a user as identifying information relative to the thumb drives contained, a work to be contained, in device 10.

As previously mentioned, one need addressed by the present invention is that of providing storage means that are specifically directed to thumb drives. Therefore, dimensions of the various components of the device 10 are important. For example, for a device 10 configured for storing four thumb drives, the dimensions described hereafter are considered ideal, with slight variations still, of course, residing within the scope of the present invention. Configured substantially according to the recited dimensions, device 10 will achieve all of the stated objectives of accommodating a plurality of thumb drives, maintaining such thumb drives in a relatively uniform orientation, providing indicia (or means for retaining indicia) relative to such plurality of thumb drives, as well as to each individual thumb drive, maintaining each contained thumb drive in a position relative to the individually-identifying indicia, and providing physical protection from impact and soiling from dust, and the like.

Accordingly, device 10 is approximately 3½″×3″×¾″, and in the preferred embodiment more precisely 3⅝″×2¾″×⅝″. Cover 26, in the preferred embodiment, accommodates media that is approximately 3″×3¾″, such that a conditional business card (not shown in the drawings) may be used as the indicia media.

As depicted, front cover wall the team, and spine wall 14 are essentially, hingedly attached to back cover wall 12. Reversible closure securing means are provided in the further embodiment in the form of complementary tabs 30 on the interior surface of front cover wall 18 and recesses 32 formed in retaining wall 20. Of course, alternative closure securing means could, in the alternative, include (among other options) hook and loop fastening material (VELCRO) suitably positioned, nesting engagement arrangements between front cover wall 18 and remaining structures of device 10, and even some form of reusable adhesive.

Dividers 22, in the preferred embodiment, project from and between the respective interior surfaces of back cover wall 12 and retaining wall 20. Dividers 22 are spaced approximately ⅞″ from respective end walls 16, as well as from each other. This, together with the previously mentioned dimensions of overall device 10, provides slots 24 that are sized and shaped for accommodating virtually all, presently known conventional thumb drives. Slots 24 are, defined, for present purposes as the areas delimited by end walls 16 and adjacent dividers 22, or by adjacent, interior dividers 22, as well as the space extending therefrom toward the outer wall of device 10 (spine wall 14, in the depicted embodiment) and from the origin of the defined space opposite thereof. Slots 24, therefore, have dimensions of approximately ⅞″×⅝″×3″.

Addition to facilities for removable indicia provided by covers 24, 26, or a combined alternative (not shown in the drawings), further indicia is suggested to appear on retaining wall 20, such as is shown in FIG. 2.

Although the invention has been described with reference to specific embodiments, this description is not meant to be construed in a limited sense. Various modifications of the disclosed embodiments, as well as alternative embodiments of the inventions will become apparent to persons skilled in the art upon the reference to the description of the invention. It is, therefore, contemplated that the appended claims will cover such modifications that fall within the scope of the invention. 

I claim:
 1. Device for storing a plurality of thumb drives comprising: an enclosure having a front cover wall, a back cover wall, a spine wall, and first and second end walls that collectively defined an interior space, at least one of said front cover wall, back cover wall, spine wall, and first and second end walls being reversibly engaged with one or more of the remaining said front cover wall, back cover wall, spine wall, and first and second end walls for facilitating reversible closure of said interior space; a plurality of divider members being substantially equally spaced and positioned within set of interior space whereby a plurality of slot spaces of substantially equal dimensions, and numbering two more than the plurality of said divider members, are defined within said interior space.
 2. The device of claim 2 wherein said front cover wall, back cover wall, spine wall, first and second end walls, and said divider members being of such dimensions as to define said slots to have dimensions of approximately ⅞″×⅝″×3″.
 3. The device of claim 1 further comprising a substantially transparent indicia retaining means attached to said enclosure for reversibly inserting, maintaining, and displaying indicia means.
 4. The device of claim 2 further comprising a substantially transparent indicia retaining means attached to said enclosure for reversibly inserting, maintaining, and displaying indicia means.
 5. A method for storing a plurality of thumb drives comprising the steps of: selecting an enclosure having a front cover wall, a back cover wall, a spine wall, and first and second end walls that collectively defined an interior space, at least one of said front cover wall, back cover wall, spine wall, and first and second end walls being reversibly engaged with one or more of the remaining said front cover wall, back cover wall, spine wall, and first and second end walls for facilitating reversible closure of said interior space; set enclosure having a plurality of divider members being substantially equally spaced and positioned within set of interior space whereby a plurality of slot spaces of substantially equal dimensions, and numbering two more than the plurality of said divider members, are defined within said interior space; inserting one or more thumb drives of a quantity between one and a number equal to said plurality of divided members plus two into said enclosure, and effecting said closure of said interior space.
 6. The method of claim 5 wherein said front cover wall, back cover wall, spine wall, first and second end walls, and said divider members being of such dimensions as to define said slots to have dimensions of approximately ⅞″×⅝″×3″.
 7. The method of claim 5 further comprising a substantially transparent indicia retaining means attached to said enclosure for reversibly inserting, maintaining, and displaying indicia means, and further comprising the step of inserting indicia means into said indicia retaining means.
 8. The method of claim 6 further comprising a substantially transparent indicia retaining means attached to said enclosure for reversibly inserting, maintaining, and displaying indicia means, and further comprising the step of inserting indicia means into said indicia retaining means. 